Former Rep Sha’aban’s Properties Auctioned Over Longstanding Debt Dispute

The Sheriff and Civil Process Unit of the Kaduna State High Court has auctioned several landed properties belonging to former federal lawmaker, Alhaji Mahmood Sani Sha’aban, following a longstanding debt dispute involving businessman Umar Faruk Abdullahi.

The auction took place on Monday, June 1, 2026, in execution of court judgments arising from a loan agreement reached in 2018.

The properties auctioned include a land and structure behind Sha’aban’s main residence opposite Therbow Secondary School, Zaria (C of O No. KD 3984); a property on Plot 3, Churchill Road, GRA Zaria (C of O No. KD 11226); another land and structure at Tulips, MTD Junction by Queen Elizabeth Road, GRA Zaria (C of O No. KD 15052); and Mazari Nails Limited along the Kaduna–Kano Expressway (C of O No. KD 6246).

Speaking after the auction, counsel to the judgment creditor, Mr. Abdullahi Yahaya, SAN, said the exercise was carried out in compliance with a court order issued by the Upper Sharia Court 1, Zaria.

He said the court had earlier ordered the confiscation and sale of five properties belonging to the judgment debtor, four located in Zaria and one in Kano.

“So far we have auctioned the properties located in Zaria and the remaining property in Kano would be done in due course,” Yahaya said.

The dispute stems from a 2018 loan agreement under which Umar Faruk Abdullahi reportedly advanced $1 million and N11.2 million to Sha’aban to facilitate his release from detention in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Court documents indicated that Sha’aban had repaid $290,762 but defaulted on the remaining balance, which was required to be repaid within six months under the terms of the agreement.

On February 12, 2024, the Upper Sharia Court 1 in Zaria ordered Sha’aban to repay the outstanding $709,238 and N11.2 million, and authorised the seizure of collateral used to secure the loan.

Sha’aban’s subsequent appeals and applications for stay of execution were dismissed at various judicial levels, including the Sharia Court of Appeal in Kaduna and later the appellate division of the Kaduna State High Court.

In a ruling delivered on September 29, 2025, the appellate court affirmed the earlier judgment, allowing enforcement proceedings to proceed.

The court held that monetary judgments remain enforceable unless there is sufficient proof that the judgment creditor cannot refund the sum if the appeal succeeds.

“There is nothing before us to suggest that the respondent is impecunious and unable to refund the judgment sum should the appeal succeed,” the court ruled.

Following the final ruling, the Sheriff and Civil Process Unit proceeded with enforcement, leading to the auction of the properties.

Meanwhile, the judgment creditor has also obtained a separate order from the Kano State High Court permitting enforcement actions on another property located at No. 48 Yusuf Road, off Hadejia Road, Bompai, Kano, which was also listed as collateral.

The court has fixed June 13 for the auction of the Kano property in continuation of enforcement proceedings.